Abdulhafiz TeslimMatthias Jaissle did something in his first Newcastle game Eddie Howe didn’t do in final stand
Matthias Jaissle’s reign as Newcastle United boss kicked off with a 2-1 win over Valencia at the Mestalla Stadium, and one of his first decisions immediately stood out.
With Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall both unavailable due to minor injury concerns, Jaissle had to find alternatives at full-back. Rather than moving an established player out of position, the new Newcastle boss chose to put his faith in two young players, Leo Shahar and Miodrag Pivas.
Shahar started at right-back, while Pivas, a right-footed centre-half, was deployed at left-back.
The decision was particularly notable because Eddie Howe had previously opted against using Shahar in his natural position. Howe had instead hinted that the 19-year-old could potentially be considered for a loan move later in the summer.
Shahar has made just one competitive appearance for Newcastle, coming in the Champions League victory over Qarabag in February, but his opportunities have increased during pre-season.
The Valencia match represented a significant step up for the youngster, with almost 50,000 supporters inside the Mestalla watching on.
Shahar impressed during his 45-minute appearance, winning several important tackles and looking composed in possession. His substitution at half-time could have been partly influenced by Newcastle’s upcoming fixture against Everton, particularly with Livramento still expected to be unavailable.
Pivas also worked hard in an unfamiliar position. He was eventually replaced by Dylan Charlton, who played the final 23 minutes of the match.
Another youngster, Mason Miley, also caught the eye after replacing Shahar at half-time. Although primarily a midfielder, Miley has experience playing at right-back for Newcastle’s Under-18 and Under-21 sides and looked comfortable despite the demanding conditions in Valencia.
Henry Johnson, who recently signed his first professional contract, was another academy player given an opportunity. He replaced Malick Thiaw at centre-half in the second half and was handed around 20 minutes to impress.
The decisions underline a potentially important difference in Jaissle’s early approach compared with his predecessor.
Rather than immediately relying on experienced players to cover unfamiliar positions, Jaissle showed a willingness to trust Newcastle’s young prospects when the opportunity presented itself.
The youngsters had reportedly impressed Jaissle during Newcastle’s pre-season training camp in La Manga, and there had already been indications that the German coach was prepared to give academy players a chance during his first game in charge.
The 2-1 victory over Valencia therefore provided more than just a winning start for Jaissle. It also offered an early glimpse of his willingness to place trust in Newcastle’s emerging talent.
With Newcastle still dealing with defensive absences, opportunities are likely to remain available. Shahar, Pivas, Miley and Johnson could all receive further minutes during the upcoming pre-season fixtures against Everton, Bayer Leverkusen and Strasbourg.
For Shahar in particular, the situation could become significant. Newcastle have not signed a right-back and Livramento remains out of action, leaving the England youth international with an opportunity to stake his claim for a bigger role.
Whether that leads to a first-team breakthrough or ultimately a loan move remains to be seen, but Jaissle’s first decision has certainly given Newcastle’s youngsters reason to believe they will get opportunities under the new manager.
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Abdulhafiz Teslim
